SANTA'S COMPANIONS

I hope you haven't been naughty?

More diverse than those of the saintly Nikolaus are the many legends and traditions surrounding his often wild companions. The pagan origin of all of these figures
is evident although difficult to trace.

St. Nikolaus also appears together with St. Peter, with an angel,
the Christchild (Christkindl). As the splendor of the candle-lit
Christmas tree and emphasis on the birth of Chris, began to shift
the function of the gift-giving St. Nikolaus, Knecht Ruprecht
became the servant and companion of the Christchild. In this role
Ruprecht became the patron saint of Christmas and was called
"Weihnachtsmann," Father Christmas or Santa Claus.

In Bavaria St. Nikolaus may be followed by the hideous Klaubauf,
a shaggy monster with horns. In Lower Austria the saint is followed by
a similar horned creature, called Krampus, covered with bells and
dragging chains; in Styria this attendant is named Bartel.

Sometimes a female figure appears with him, usually a boy dressed
up as Budelfrau in Lower Austria, Berchtel in Swabia, and Buzebergt
in the neighborhood of Augsburg. Buzebergt wears black rags, has a
blackened face and unkempt hair. Others are Rumpelklas, Bellzebub,
Pelznickel, Hans Muff, Klaubauf, Drapp or Zwarte Peter.

All around Salzburg there are Krampus runs around December 5th. There are two possibilities to get a glimpse of Nikolaus and his Krampusses in the Salzburg region. The first possibility is if you have children, then you can invite Nikolaus into your home. The second possibility is to visit one of the street runs or parades (see image One, Two, Three). This custom has nothing to do with spirits or driving out winter; rather it deals primarily with good upbringing and conduct. Well-behaved children are rewarded and naughty ones get put in the sack and taken along (they probably know the story of Strupelpeter).

There is also another closely related custom, the Perchten run (Video). This custom is carried out with the same masks, but only in the wild nights around the sixth of January. This custom is concerned with driving out evil spirits, that is, winter.